Wenger pledges Arsenal stay, says “retirement is dying”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stated his desire to keep his job next season as he believes “retirement is dying” for people of his age.Wenger’s tenure as Gunners manager came under heavy scrutiny and criticism after the team slipped to sixth in the Premier League following four consecutive defeats, including a 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.But the Frenchman, who has been at Arsenal since 1996, said: “I will not retire.”His contract expires at the end of the season but the club has offered him a new two-year deal. “Retiring is for young people,” said Wenger, speaking before Sunday’s league match at home to Manchester City. “For old people retirement is dying. I still watch every football game. I find it interesting.”

The match against City culminated in a 2-2 draw, which broke Arsenal’s losing streak but kept the team at sixth place.Wenger, 67, is currently in his 21st year as Arsenal manager; he has not led the Gunners to a Premier League title in 13 years.“Of course I’m as hungry,” he said. “I carry a bit more pressure on my shoulders than 20 years ago — but the hunger is exactly the same.”“I hate defeat. I can understand the fans that are unhappy with every defeat but the only way to have victory is to stick together with the fans and give absolutely everything until the end of the season, that’s all we can do.”